Paul's Two Ministries: Chronological Order of Epistles and to Whom He Wrote Them

Paul's Two Ministries: Chronological Order of Epistles and to Whom He Wrote Them

Paul did not write anything until after he began his second missionary journey in which he was preaching the gospel of God in the synagogues and separating out those who believed it, into houses and schools, to establish them in the Gospel of Christ. His audience was a mix of Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) and during this time he was still water baptizing and doing miracles and signs for the Jews to believe his message. The gospel of God was about the resurrection of Christ and that this proved He was the Son of God. The gospel of Christ was about how Christ died for their sins, releasing them from the laws of Moses (yet maintaining some basic laws to keep the peace between the mixed cultures). Both these gospels that were preached to those who believed could be proved from the scriptures and the prophets. Those established in the gospel of Christ became members of the fledgling yet expanding Body of Christ.

The first 6 of Paul's letters can be referenced within the Book of Acts — we can read Acts and then cross-reference it in Paul's letters, and we can see where Paul was when he wrote these letters.

1 AND 2 THESSALONIANS

The first letters Paul wrote are the two letters to the Thessalonians. In Acts 17, Paul, on his second apostolic journey, came to Thessalonica and preached there. Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. Paul continued on south through Macedonia until he came to Corinth where he wrote the two letters to the Thessalonians. Timothy's return from Macedonia mentioned in Acts 18:5 is also reported in 1 Thessalonians 3:6. And in 2 Thessalonians 2:5 Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his teaching, as if it had not been very long since he had been with them. So, the writing of 1 and 2 Thessalonians can be placed into Acts 18:9 during the time of Paul's ministry in Corinth, and that makes them the first 2 letters that Paul wrote.

THE LETTER TO THE GALATIANS

The letter to the Galatians is written during Paul's second missionary journey. Paul had visited the region of Galatia before and tells us in his letter that he had returned there again to physically witness how their faith had been twisted to believe things other than what Paul had previously taught them. (Gal.3:1..., Gal.4:14...). Acts 15:36 confirms that he decided to revisit these places he had been during his first missionary journey, confirming the ministry they did during their first missionary journey. Acts 18:22 tells us of the conclusion of his second journey as he travelled from Corinth to Caesarea and finally back to Antioch.

Acts 18:23 is the beginning of Paul's third missionary journey, going over all the country (incl. Galatia), strengthening the churches. This is when Paul learns of their departure of faith! In Acts 19:1 Paul is in Ephesus, after his visit to Galatia, and it is from here that he writes the letter of Galatians to document and provide written correction to the false doctrine they had fallen to.

1 AND 2 CORINTHIANS

The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinth—see Acts 18:11. He later returned to his home base at Antioch (Acts 18:22), and later in his third apostolic journey he arrived in Ephesus (his ministry in Ephesus extends all the way through Acts 19—a period of more than two years, see v10). It is here in Ephesus during Acts 19 that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians— see 1 Corinthians 16:19. Shortly after that Paul travelled to Macedonia (see Acts 20:1 and 2 Cor. 2:13) and that is where he wrote 2 Corinthians.

ROMANS

Paul is in his 3rd missionary journey, having left from Antioch and is now in Ephesus where he writes Galatians and 1 Corinthians. Later, he travels up to Macedonia where he writes 2 Corinthians. In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in "Greece," i.e., in Corinth again, and spent three months there enjoying the hospitality of a believer named Gaius (mentioned in 1 Cor. 1:14). In Gaius's home, in Corinth, Paul wrote the letter to the Romans (see Rom. 16:23). This is the last letter written during the Book of Acts. In Acts 21:33 Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, and would spend the next 5 years in prison, right through the end of the Book of Acts.

So, to sum up what we have seen so far, from Acts 9 through to Acts 28 we read of the earlier ministry of the Apostle Paul and find that during these years he wrote 6 of his 13 letters. 

The order of these first six books is:

1. 1 Thessalonians—Acts 18
2. 2 Thessalonians—Acts 18
3. Galatians—end of Acts 18
4. 1 Corinthians—Acts 19
5. 2 Corinthians—Acts 20
6. Romans—Acts 20

Before Acts 21 Paul is free to travel and minister, but the Word (the gospel of the grace of God) is bound within him. It is after Acts 21 where Paul is arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond, that now he is bound in the flesh, yet the Word of God is unbound, free to be ministered out without having to keep it under wraps.

SUMMARY EVENTS BEFORE WE GET TO PRISON EPISTLES

Paul had Two Ministries:
(1) During ACTS	(2) After ACTS
To the Jews and Greeks. The Lord had not cast away His people 'yet'	To the Far Hence Gentile (Aliens)
1&2 Thess; Gal; 1&2 Cor; Rom	Phil; Col; Eph; Philemon; 1 Tim; Titus; 2 Tim
These Things	Those Things
Christ said: I have appeared	Christ said: I will appear
Damascus Road – Sent	Temple – Sent
The Jew and Greek (limited group in synagogue)	To ALL men (no more advantage to the Jew first!)
Still doing signs and wonders. Gentiles provided evidence of gifts to bring jealousy upon Israel. Prophecy still in operation. Gal.3:1> "and worketh miracles among you"	No more signs and wonders
Mystery hid in scripture Gospel of God = Our gospel (x3) Gospel of Christ = My gospel (x3)	Mystery hid in God Thus called: Unsearchable Gospel of the Grace of God = Your gospel
Churches in missionary ministry still keeping ordinances and some laws to not offend the Jews	No ordinances (nailed to cross) Contrary to them; nothing added, no association with Jews. Christ is ALL!
Paul still baptising in water  during 2nd missionary journey	Baptised BY the Spirit into the Body. Water baptism contrary. No Jew association!
Children of Abraham (have the manifestation of the Spirit) Part of the promise of Abraham. Blessing Jews with financial support allowed them to be under physical blessing of the Jews	Have no part in the promise of Abraham. Without Paul's prison epistles, we cannot find salvation for us in the Bible. We had no hope and were without God in this world, except for God's pure grace under Paul's far hence Gentile ministry and mystery doctrine
Grafted into the Olive tree	Have no part in the Olive tree
Heirs	Fellow heirs (belonging to the same Body of Christ)
Saints	Faithful
1st Trusted	Ye also Trusted

THE PRISON EPISTLES—
PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS, EPHESIANS, AND PHILEMON  

Shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while he was still a prisoner, now in Rome, Paul wrote four letters—the "prison epistles": Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon. In each of these letters he writes of his "chains"— see Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13.

THE PASTORAL EPISTLES—
THE LETTERS TO FIRST TIMOTHY, TITUS, AND SECOND TIMOTHY

Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. During this time, he wrote the three letters known as the "Pastoral Epistles," because these letters were written to Paul's co-workers—Timothy and Titus. Finally, at the end of his life he is again in prison. This time he anticipates being beheaded for the Lord and writes the last letter, 2 Timothy.

SUMMARY

We have surveyed the 13 letters written by the Apostle Paul, arranging them in the order in which Paul wrote them:

During the Book of Acts—6 letters:

• Galatians
• The 2 Thessalonian letters
• The 2 Corinthian letters
• Romans

Then after the Book of Acts ends—7 more letters:

The 4 Prison Epistles and 3 Pastoral Epistles:

• Philippians
• Colossians
• Ephesians
• Philemon

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• 1 Timothy
• Titus
• 2 Timothy